Virtual Networks Recruit Iraqi Youth to Fight for Russia in Ukraine

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), young Iraqis are being lured through online platforms to join Russian forces in Ukraine, enticed by promises of high salaries and fast-track Russian citizenship — a phenomenon that has left many families in anguish after losing contact with their sons.

The agency reported that Mohammed Imad, a 24-year-old from Iraq, posted his last TikTok video about six months ago, wearing military fatigues in an open field under the Russian flag with the caption “Pray for me.” Since then, his family has heard nothing. His mother, Zainab Jabbar (54), told AFP: “He left and never came back… We Iraqis have seen too many wars and we are exhausted. What do we have to do with Russia?”

The investigation revealed that recruitment channels on TikTok and Telegram advertise offers of up to $2,800 in monthly pay, signing bonuses reaching $20,000, and expedited visa and travel arrangements — attracting young men from impoverished regions with few employment opportunities. Some channels even share lists of basic Russian military terms to help new recruits communicate upon arrival.

Families of four Iraqi youths who traveled to Russia told AFP that three remain missing while one returned dead. Relatives continue to search social media for any trace of their sons. Mohammed’s last known location was near the Oryol and Kursk regions close to the Ukrainian border. In his final call home, he said only: “There’s a war… Pray for me.”

One Iraqi man currently fighting alongside Russian troops said financial hardship was his sole motivation, explaining that he sends home around $2,500 each month. Still, he warned that “death is always near here” due to the prevalence of drones and advanced weaponry.

Iraqi authorities have warned citizens against being recruited to fight abroad. In September, a Najaf criminal court sentenced a man to life imprisonment for forming groups and trafficking young men to foreign battlefields. The Iraqi embassy in Moscow has also issued multiple warnings regarding such activities.

Families of those who joined the fighting said they face social stigma at home. In some cases, burials have been carried out in secret when bodies were returned, despite financial compensation. “I just want them to bring me my son,” Mohammed’s mother pleaded. “I want nothing else… I only want to know if he’s alive or dead.”